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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;7Jags, post: 4204347, member: 78719&quot;]This is a coin that has little respect, nor does its larger sovereign brother although both are rare in higher grades.</p><p><br /></p><p>Gold from the London mint was rather sparse in 1879:</p><p><br /></p><p>35,000 Half sovereigns struck</p><p>20,000 Sovereigns struck</p><p><br /></p><p>The sovereign (Marsh rates as R4) comes only very poorly struck on the obverse with even AU coins looking a bit poorly. These evidently were &quot;paid&quot; out into circulation, and higher grades above AU53 are quite elusive.</p><p><br /></p><p>The half sovereign in grades EF and above is prohibitively rare and circulated rather widely. Pictured here is an AU55 that I did not photograph well, and looks much better in the PCGS pop photos. It is listed as R2 in Marsh but is likely R5 in Mint state - and I have never seen one at that level. Occasionally lesser grade specimens show up, and usually go rather cheaply when found (such is coming up in the BSJ Auction to be held presently). This coin at PCGS is not only &quot;Pop Top&quot; but is [newly coined] &quot;Only Pop&quot;.[ATTACH=full]1077960[/ATTACH][ATTACH=full]1077961[/ATTACH][/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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